Nuggets

Billups Undergoes Successful Surgery

Chauncey Billups #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers is helped off the court after an injury during the game against the Orlando Magic on February 6, 2012 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Related Tags:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clippers guard Chauncey Billups underwent a successful surgery in Colorado on Wednesday to repair his torn left Achilles tendon that cost him the remainder of his first season in Los Angeles.

The Clippers say Billups is expected to remain in Colorado for about four weeks before returning to Los Angeles to begin rehabilitation.

Billups was injured in a Feb. 6 game against Orlando when he turned to run up the court and buckled.

The five-time All-Star had been a huge addition for the club, which claimed Billups in December after he was waived by the New York Knicks under the league’s new amnesty clause. He was averaging 14.9 points and four assists. But it was his impact in mentoring Chris Paul and Blake Griffin that made Billups invaluable.